Tonoy Emroz

“I love my dynasty and to rule it like an emperor. I will not give it away for anything. I will fortify all its walls against all invaders. I will shed blood and make my people die for the survival of my empire and hand it over to my children”.

That is the sacred oath taken by our top politicians.

The dynasties of the past were preserved so as to preserve the lives of people who belonged to such dynasties, the political dynasties in the Bangladesh are being preserved to protect the personal interest of politicians and their families. Dynasties in Bangladesh politics are self-serving, egoistic, aggrandizing, self-glorifying. The political dynasties in the Bangladesh, knows democratic ideals but does not promote democracy at all.

Because of the proliferation of political dynasties, people have lost their role in nation building. Their voice has been muffled by fear of offending these dynasties. The saddest part is that the continuity of these dynasties is anchored on people’s money which in turn is used by politicians to buy votes to prolong their dynasties. A political dynasty cannot perpetuate its rule without vote-buying. And whose money is used to buy the votes? It’s people own money. Our democratic history was written by our heroes’ blood. The likes of Nur Hossain and Dr. Milon gave their lives so that we would be free. Are we free yet?

The recently concluded Bangladesh elections and party councils only multiplied the presence of political dynasties. In fact the situation became worse. Husbands and wives are exchanging posts. Fathers and daughters and sons or mothers and kids are swapping public and political positions. And because of rotten principles, they have transformed themselves into a social monster that uses democracy to destroy democracy itself. They have secretly robbed the innocent Bangladeshi people, their power to choose the right public servant and the ability to create significant changes in our society.

It’s ironic that we live in a democratic country yet have been ruled by a selected few who have changed our country from a nation with a big potential for economic progress to a “parasite republic” that it is today. No one in the National parliament will ever dare to put the limelight to the Constitutional provision that clearly supports the notion that political dynasty is against the law, unless, if they all admit that they are guilty to the crime. If a parliamentary constituency becomes an inheritance, it becomes a private estate whose purpose is to benefit the family who owns it. And, the reason why most of our political parties have been turned into private property is because politics is the easiest way to make money in Bangladesh. Nobody knows this better than politicians.

Dynastic democracy has harmed Bangladesh incalculably. Not just because it is a major source of corruption but because it has created a younger generation of political leaders who are not leaders at all.

Tarek Rahman,Fazle Nur Tapos, Asraf Hossain, Sohel Taz, Mahi B, Andalib Rahman Partho, Naser Rahman, Zahid Ahsan Russel provided some examples of this in past few years. Because of the vulnerable social economic situation of the country this should have been their moment to lead but because of their nearly zero involvement with the mass people and lack of leadership quality they have failed. They do not even have a clear understanding of what people expects from a leader.

Political leaders of charisma come always from real political movements and not from the wombs of women who marry political leaders. But, in Bangladesh we appear not to have worked this out. So we have political heirs in charge of nearly all our political parties. There are thousands of Bangladeshis eminently qualified for public life who never get a chance because of the feudal practices of our political parties.

Now that we have seen Bangladesh’s most famous heirs ( Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia) failed to lead the nation into prosperity and failed to represent democratic values, can we hope that at least our major political parties start recognizing that they must start changing their ways before it is too late.

332 Responses to “The Death of a Democracy”

Khondkar Abdus Saleque

Nation fought relently against Military Democracy of General Ershad. Dr Milon and Noor Mohammad become the symbol of democracy to free democracy from corrupt autocrat regime in 1990 .What we got in return ? Two leadies basically housewives leading two top political parties Bangladeshi Awami League { Mostly proliberation garssroot politicians and some opportunists] and Another Bangladesh Nationalist Party [ Formed as alloy of left , wright , north and south seeking opportunists]ruled Bangladesh for almost two decades .Did we get true democracy ? Leaving Khaleda and Hasina infront corrupt politicians, opportunist Jack of All Trades beauracrats .evil Business Syndicate made Bangladesh happy hunting ground for corruption and misgovernanace. Politics became the most lucrative business for making business. Can any one gurantee that BNP and BAL have democracy in their own party and front organistaion. All powers belong to the two ldaies. Consequently dystnasty control takes root . Second generation of top ranked policians started dominating politics , business . All democratic institution , all government institutions became throughluy ploiticed . Party in power go all out to cling to power and opposition try every efforts fair or foul to knock out party in power. Streeet confrontation destroy peoples property , stagnate busines and commerce.Where this brave nation born after bloody bath of 1971 is heading ?
Can better educated , forward thinking youth take lead and unite to sweep away dirty evil politics and work to establish the rule of law and true democracy?

Khondkar Abdus Saleque

Nation fought relentlessly against Military Democracy of General Ershad. Dr Milon and Noor Mohammad become the symbol of democracy to free democracy from corrupt autocrat regime in 1990 .What we got in return ? Two leadies basically housewives leading two top political parties Bangladeshi Awami League { Mostly proliberation garssroot politicians and some opportunists] and another Bangladesh Nationalist Party [ Formed as alloy of left , wright , north and south seeking opportunists]ruled Bangladesh for almost two decades .Did we get true democracy ? Leaving Khaleda and Hasina infront corrupt politicians, opportunists, “Jack of All Trades beauracrats” .evil Business Syndicates made Bangladesh happy hunting ground for corruption and misgovernanace. Politics became the most lucrative business for making money. Can any one gurantee that BNP and BAL have democracy in their own party and front organistaions? All powers belong to the two ldaies. Consequently dystnasty control takes root . Second generation of top ranked policians started dominating politics , business . All democratic institution , all government institutions became throughluy ploitised . Party in power go all out to cling to power by hook or crook and opposition try every efforts fair or foul to knock out party in power. Street confrontation destroy peoples property , stagnate busines and commerce.Where this brave nation born after bloody bath of 1971 is heading to? How can a self respecting nation become champion of corruption for several years ? Has any one been accounted for these ignominy?
Can better educated , forward thinking youth take lead and unite to sweep away dirty evil politics and work to establish the rule of law and true democracy?